Where are true hidden treasures discovered?

I think of my family and friends as hidden treasures sent by God, but God's true hidden treasure is to be discovered within the pages of the HOLY BIBLE, His Word. After my youngest sister's death, I discovered a scripture that became hidden treasure to me. As the Good Book says in 1 Thessalonians verses 4:16-18, I know I’ll see Mom and my sister again. The New International Version (NIV) of The Holy Bible has one of my favorite verses because it provides peace of mind when loved ones pass:
. . . and the dead in Christ will rise first: After that, we who are still alive and left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

These words are true hidden treasure sent from God to give us hope and joy and encourage us to encourage one another with His Word. May a cloud of peace fill you. As the Kingdom Heirs sing in their new song, "Good News From the Graveyard," Mom and Lisa are not there; the graves are only empty tombs. They're living their heavenly life with Jesus. For those of us who're still living our earthly lives, God's Word, the Bible, is an instruction manual or guide for life. His Word is the true hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Dig deep for your treasure within the pages of the Bible and see what true hidden treasure you discover for yourself.

Blessings and prayers, In Christ,In His Service
Barb

True Hidden Treasures

True Hidden Treasures, my inspirational, Christian fiction novel is completed! I've worked long and hard on accomplishing this task and pray for God to guide me in its publication and outreach to others. I gleaned the idea from previous work in strawberries and the secretarial and teaching fields. The book is purely fictional, though I've gained ideas from life experiences.

With Christmas over, I'm focusing on proofing, editing, and beefing up the novel. I wrote it one way, then another, and I've decided to change it yet again.

Christmas

Fried turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, rolls and butter, banana nut bread, blueberry bread, date bread, and ham. Stuffed more than a turkey. Rodney phoned, and Gail phoned as I was walking into the local Winn Dixie to get milk for baking and dog food. I forgot--cherry cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, pumpkin pie, sweetpotato pie, and oreo pie. Candy as a gift. Chocolate covered cheeries with peanut butter, another gift. I'll have to diet and exercise to make up for all this food, but thank you Lord for the bountiful blessings you've bestowed on our family this Christmas Day. God is good. I pray all my loved ones in Louisiana had a blessed, safe Christmas, one of joy, peace, faith, and love. Blessings, prayers, and love, Mom

Kingdom Heirs

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of hearing the Kingdom Heirs in concert at Dollywood in Tennessee. My husband bought me a T-shirt that says "Keep Christ in Christmas". I loved the new song "Good News from the Graveyard" by the Kingdom Heirs. As Christmas approaches, I remember the reason for the season and thank God for the opportunity to visit with family and friends I rarely get to see. As I reflect on the Tennesses visit and the new song I heard, I am happy to know Mom and Lisa are in heaven for Christmas. God gives, and He takes away. We are blessed with a new little bundle of holiday joy this Christmas season, little granddaughter named Ava Marie. She's seven months old, and her eyes curiously roam, light up, glitter,glow, and sparkle as much as the lights on our Christmas tree. It's her first Christmas, and she's spending it with us. Thank God for such a precious gift. What freshness and joy she brings. I wrote an article about my own precious gift from heaven, my youngest son, and my choice to answer God's calling as a young mother. Later, in God's own perfect timing, he blessed me with a career, but my job at that particular time in my life was my son. When we follow God's calling, He blesses us. He has blessed me with two beautiful grandsons from my son, and life goes on. Thank you God for the precious gifts of children and grandchildren and for allowing me to live to see my children grown and to see my grandchildren. Lord willing, I'll live to see my grandchildren grow and become a great grandmother. Lord willing, I'll write for His kingdom. Thank you, God, for all the precious gifts you've placed in my life and for all the blessings you continuously bestow. I love you!

Your daughter,
Barb

Honing my Craft

I’m author/educator Barbara Robinson. My training and experience as a writer include graduation from Long Ridge Writing Group’s Basics of Writing Short Stories and Articles for Publication and completion of the Apprentice Program with the Christian Writers Guild. I’ve tackled the Journeyman Level Program and have ten devotionals accepted for publication. Two are online at http://www.mustardseedministries.org/, seven will appear in Devotions, Standard Publishing Company in 2010, and one was published in Words to Write By Author Devotionals compiled by Robin Bayne. I’ve written two books, articles in local newspapers, books, online and print magazines, poems in newspapers and anthologies, won first prize for a short story, which was published in a literary magazine and appeared as a serial in my hometown newspaper, running on the front page with my picture for three weeks in a row, co-sponsored a creative-writing club ten years, sponsored one five years for middle-school students, and authored a column for my hometown newspaper. An article titled “Publishing on Demand? What’s to Gain?” will appear in Christian Fiction Online Magazine at http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/ in March.

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Write it in a book all the words I have spoken to you.” Jeremiah 30:2, NIV.

My goal is to write the words God has spoken to me through threads and themes in novels and let God do the rest. I'll continue to be a life-long learner, reader, and writer, honing my craft and striving for excellence for God's glory.

I hope you'll keep abreast of my novel's development. It's turning into a full-length novel of approximately 350 pages, 39 chapters of thought-provoking romantic suspense, a page-turner with characters who'll leap off the page and come alive. It's nearly finished!

Barb